Clyde Waterfront & Renfrew
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The Glasgow City Region City Deal CLYDE WATERFRONT & RENFREW RIVERSIDE AND GLASGOW AIRPORT INVESTMENT AREA ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NON -TECHNICAL SUMMARY July 2017 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 1 FIGURES 2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.............................. 4 FIGURE 1: AERIAL OF BOTH FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS FIGURE 2: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS 3 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SITES....................................... 5 FIGURE 3: CWRR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH 4 PROJECT NEED ................................................................... 8 FIGURE 4: GAIA AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH 5 SITE SELECTION AND DESIGN ............................................... 10 FIGURE 5: CWRR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED FIGURE 6: GAIA ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED 6 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT .................................................. 13 FIGURE 7: CWRR SITE LAYOUT 7 CONSULTATION ................................................................ 16 FIGURE 8: GAIA SITE LAYOUT 8 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................... 18 9 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS CONTINUED… ............................... 29 10 CUMULATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS................................. 15 11 COMMENTING ON THE PLANNING APPLICATION ....................... 19 Document Control Sheet Ver. Date Version Prepared Checked EIA Authorised Details by and reviewed by Approved by by S1/S2 21.02.17 Suitable for Alex - - - Co- Gardiner ordination S3 14.05.17 Suitable for Alex Henry Chris Internal Gardiner Collin Cardno Review & Comment S6 04.07.17 Suitable for Alex Henry Rebecca Sandy Ross PIM Gardiner Collin McLean Authorization BIM REFERENCE - 117086-SWECO-EGN-00-SP-EN-00100 Page 1-ii of the Non-Technical Summary July 2017 CITY DEALS RENFREWSHIRE NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY CWRR AND GAIA OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT and supporting documentation. The Environmental Statement (ES) has been prepared to support planning applications for the CWRR and GAIA projects. The ES also supports applications to Marine Scotland for marine licences. 1.1.3 The CWRR project will see the construction of a new opening bridge across the River Clyde and the construction of the Renfrew North Development Road. The design and operation of the bridge will ensure that the navigation rights of the river are maintained, and that the important role of the river to the regional economy is supported. The proposals also include new and improved cycling and walking infrastructure. 1.1.4 The GAIA project involves the realignment of Abbotsinch Road between Arran Avenue and Greenock Road / Inchinnan Road, a new bridge across the White Cart Water (the Wright Street Link) and improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. GAIA also covers the Inchinnan Cycleway application which includes a new cycle bridge over the Black Car. All development for GAIA is aimed at improving connections between the Westway, Inchinnan and Airport Business Parks and as an enabler for the delivery of a world class business and commercial offering located around the airport. Figure 1 – Aerial of Both Future Developments 1.1.5 This new infrastructure is being delivered as part of the Glasgow 1 INTRODUCTION City Region (GCR) City Deal which is investing £1.13bn in 1.1.1 The purpose of this Non-Technical Summary (NTS) is to infrastructure projects across eight local authority areas within summarise the findings of the Environmental Impact the region. This investment, which includes £274m on three Assessment and other key information contained in the infrastructure projects in Renfrewshire, focuses on transport Environmental Statement. and infrastructure projects to support business and employment growth. Analysis by independent consultants on 1.1.2 Sweco is the lead consultant for both the CWRR infrastructure behalf of the GCR identified CWRR as the highest performing project and the GAIA infrastructure project (the Proposed project included in the City Deal, in relation to its contribution Developments). Sweco has provided key consultancy support to economic growth (GVA) for the Region. to develop the project designs and the planning applications Page 1 of the Non-Technical Summary July 2017 CITY DEALS RENFREWSHIRE NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY CWRR AND GAIA OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 1.1.6 The CWRR project is being progressed in parallel with the GAIA 1.1.8 Renfrewshire Council (the applicant) is playing a key role in applications, but under three discrete planning applications due delivering three of the biggest infrastructure projects: the to the project location, which crosses three local authority CWRR project and the GAIA project (mentioned above) and also boundaries, namely: Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and the Glasgow Airport Access Project (AAP). The AAP project is Glasgow City Councils. Planning applications will be submitted being progressed separately and is not part of this assessment. to each authority under the Town and Country Planning These projects, together with other Glasgow City Region City (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations Deal projects being delivered by other local authorities, will 2011 (‘TCP EIA Regs’). The project also has the potential to transform local and regional connectivity resulting in job impact upon the marine environment and as such, an opportunities through business growth and inward investment. application will be made to Marine Scotland, under the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (MW EIA Regulations). 1.1.7 The GAIA project is being progressed under two separate planning applications, both of which will be submitted to Renfrewshire Council. One application comprises the Inchinnan Cycleway which includes a new cycle bridge over the Black Cart, with the other comprising the Abbotsinch Road Realignment, the Wright St Link & the Abbotsinch Cycleway. There will also be a Marine Licence Application for the GAIA project. Photograph 1: View of the Clyde Page 2 of the Non-Technical Summary July 2017 CITY DEALS RENFREWSHIRE NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY CWRR AND GAIA OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT FIGURE 2: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT LOCATIONS Page 3 of the Non-Technical Summary July 2017 CITY DEALS RENFREWSHIRE NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY CWRR AND GAIA OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 2.1.6 The purpose of the ES is intended to enable stakeholders and decision makers to understand the nature of the proposed 2.1.1 The ES records the results of the EIA which has examined the developments and to evaluate the identified likely significant effects of the proposed developments on a wide range of effects. In the case of the competent authorities for these two environmental topics which were agreed with the local Proposed Developments, they may use that knowledge in planning authorities (planning decision makers) and the deciding whether to grant consent and if so, what conditions statutory consultees through a formal scoping process. might be appropriate. The ES therefore serves to aid the 2.1.2 As the designs were developed for both projects, consultees decision-making process and to present information in a readily were issued with a scoping update to allow them to revisit the accessible form. agreed scope. EIA LEGISLATION 2.1.3 The conclusions of the assessment for each topic are summarised in this NTS. 2.1.7 Both proposed developments include infrastructure elements that are to be constructed in terrestrial and in marine 2.1.4 In carrying out the EIA, Sweco has utilised a number of environments. This means that there are two main Regulations experienced specialist consultants to assist in the assessment that cover the requirement for the EIA. process in addition to in-house specialists, including ITP Energised (ecology, air quality and land use), WSP (noise) and 2.1.8 Under Category 10(f) of the Town and Country Planning TCP EIA 1 Headland Archaeology (archaeology). Regulation ’), both projects require EIA as the road infrastructure proposed in each exceeds the stated 1 hectare 2.1.5 Mitigation is an important aspect of EIA, and comprises the threshold and there is potential for significant environmental measures proposed through the consideration of alternatives, effects. This view is supported by the Screening Opinions physical design, construction best practice, project received from all competent authorities (Local Planning management or operation to avoid, reduce or compensate any Authorities and Marine Scotland) following the submission of a significant adverse effects on people and the environment Screening Request by the Renfrewshire City Deal team in June resulting from the proposed developments. The project team 2016. Further information and a copy of the screening request has considered mitigation as an integral part of the overall is provided in Volume 1, Chapter 4 of the ES. project design process throughout the EIA and the design of the proposed development elements. 1 New Town and County Planning EIA Regulations in Scotland came into force in May were sought prior to May 2017 and this City Deal Renfrewshire ES has therefore been 2017. These Regulations (the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact completed in accordance with the previous EIA Regulations. Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017) provide ‘transitional arrangements’ for applications where a Scoping Opinion was sought from the planning authority